Allergy & Immunology
Covid-19: In vitro studies show Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines produce fewer antibodies against South African variant
19 Feb, 2021 | 03:01h | UTCCommentaries: Expert reaction to two NEJM Correspondence articles on in vitro studies of the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines and different variants/mutations including mutations on the South Africa variant – Science Media Centre AND Lab studies suggest Pfizer, Moderna vaccines can protect against coronavirus variant – CNN AND Pfizer and Moderna vaccines have reduced effectiveness against South African variant, newly published studies show – The Washington Post AND Pfizer, Moderna vaccines less effective against South African COVID variant – MedicalXpress
Commentary on Twitter
New reports @NEJM today confirming some immune evasion of the B.1.351 variant (identified in South Africa) to both the mRNA vaccines, in vitro data @BioNTech_Group/@Pfizer and @moderna_tx. Less vaccine efficacy vs B.1.351 has been confirmed in clinical trials for 3 vaccines pic.twitter.com/2N7eKDllso
— Eric Topol (@EricTopol) February 17, 2021
A food allergy epidemic… or just another case of overdiagnosis?
19 Feb, 2021 | 02:13h | UTCA food allergy epidemic… or just another case of overdiagnosis? – The BMJ Opinion
Original study: Food anaphylaxis in the United Kingdom: analysis of national data, 1998-2018 – The BMJ
Take whatever COVID vaccine you can get. All of them stop death and hospitalization
15 Feb, 2021 | 01:17h | UTCTake whatever COVID vaccine you can get. All of them stop death and hospitalization – USA Today
“All seven COVID-19 vaccines that have completed large efficacy trials — Pfizer, Moderna, Johnson & Johnson, Novavax, AstraZeneca, Sputnik V and Sinovac — appear to be 100% effective for serious complications. Not one vaccinated person has gotten sick enough to require hospitalization. Not a single vaccinated person has died of COVID-19.”
Reports of anaphylaxis after receipt of mRNA COVID-19 vaccines in the US
15 Feb, 2021 | 01:13h | UTCAuthor interview: COVID-19 Vaccine Safety–Anaphylaxis and Allergic Reactions – JAMA
Commentary on Twitter
More than 17.5 million doses of Pfizer & Moderna vaccine were administered between Dec 14 – Jan 18, in USA.
Only 66 cases of anaphylaxis were reported & all but 1 case occurred within 11 min of vaccination.
0 deaths.https://t.co/P1YJISkHZE
— Isaac Bogoch (@BogochIsaac) February 12, 2021
Small RCT: Inhaled budesonide reduces the need for hospitalization in COVID-19 patients
11 Feb, 2021 | 02:18h | UTCCommentaries: Common asthma treatment reduces need for hospitalisation in COVID-19 patients, study suggests – University of Oxford AND Expert reaction to preprint on an RCT of inhaled budesonide in the treatment of early COVID-19 – Science Media Centre
Perspective: Leave your antibodies alone
11 Feb, 2021 | 02:12h | UTCLeave Your Antibodies Alone – The Atlantic
Case report: SARS-CoV-2 evolution in immunocompromised patient treated with convalescent plasma
7 Feb, 2021 | 21:32h | UTCSARS-CoV-2 evolution during treatment of chronic infection – Nature
Commentary on Twitter
Just published @nature: The evolution of #SARSCoV2 in an immunocompromised patient, over > 100 days, that markedly accelerated once treated w/ convalescent plasma, with mutations that altered the response to neutralizing antibodies, by @GuptaR_lab https://t.co/SI4QL6BRXe pic.twitter.com/wqI1C2EYjQ
— Eric Topol (@EricTopol) February 5, 2021
German 2021 guideline update on acute therapy and management of anaphylaxis
4 Feb, 2021 | 01:17h | UTC
UK Biobank study shows that COVID-19 antibodies remain for at least 6 months post-infection for the vast majority of people who have had the virus
4 Feb, 2021 | 01:32h | UTCCommentary: Covid: Antibodies last at least six months in most – BBC
Systematic review: No evidence that patients with asthma are at increased risk of COVID-19 diagnosis, hospitalization or death
4 Feb, 2021 | 01:24h | UTC
Covid-19: People who have had infection might only need one dose of mRNA vaccine
3 Feb, 2021 | 01:44h | UTCCovid-19: People who have had infection might only need one dose of mRNA vaccine – The BMJ
Original preprint studies: Robust spike antibody responses and increased reactogenicity in seropositive individuals after a single dose of SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccine – medRxiv AND Single Dose Vaccination in Healthcare Workers Previously Infected with SARS-CoV-2 – medRxiv
Safety and effectiveness of bronchial thermoplasty after 10 years in patients with persistent asthma
2 Feb, 2021 | 01:06h | UTCSafety and effectiveness of bronchial thermoplasty after 10 years in patients with persistent asthma (BT10+): a follow-up of three randomised controlled trials – The Lancet Respiratory Medicine (link to abstract – $ for full-text)
CDC Report: Allergic reactions including anaphylaxis after receipt of the first dose of Moderna COVID-19 vaccine
25 Jan, 2021 | 01:29h | UTCCommentary: CDC reports rare allergic reactions to Moderna’s Covid-19 vaccine – STAT
Clinical update: Allergic reactions including anaphylaxis after receipt of the first dose of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine
22 Jan, 2021 | 08:35h | UTCAuthor interview: COVID-19 Vaccine Safety–Anaphylaxis and Allergic Reactions
Randomized trial: Benralizumab effects on health-related quality of life, exacerbation rate, lung function, and nasal polyposis symptoms for patients with severe eosinophilic asthma
22 Jan, 2021 | 07:59h | UTCOnset of effect and impact on health-related quality of life, exacerbation rate, lung function, and nasal polyposis symptoms for patients with severe eosinophilic asthma treated with benralizumab (ANDHI): a randomised, controlled, phase 3b trial – The Lancet Respiratory Medicine (link to abstract – $ for full-text)
Commentary on Twitter
NEW Research—#Benralizumab significantly reduced exacerbation risk by 49% vs placebo (RR estimate 0·51, 95% CI 0·39–0·65; p≤0·0001) over the 24-week treatment period in patients with severe eosinophilic #asthma
The ANDHI study from Tim Harrison & co https://t.co/bQwikpQZvc pic.twitter.com/sS9ab0Mo1R
— The Lancet Respiratory Medicine (@LancetRespirMed) January 4, 2021
Study: Immune system ‘remembers’ coronavirus for at least 6 months
20 Jan, 2021 | 01:44h | UTCImmune system ‘remembers’ coronavirus for at least 6 months: study – MedicalXpress
Original study: Evolution of antibody immunity to SARS-CoV-2 – Nature
Commentary on Twitter
Just published @nature: Memory B cells to #SARSCoV2 from 87 infectees persist >6 months, evolve, more potent than original antibodies, likely more resistant to "escape" spike mutations, antigen persistence in gut in 7/14 biopsied https://t.co/ImuoZdfzJO
@c_gaebler @NussenzweigL pic.twitter.com/P1wahDOuiI— Eric Topol (@EricTopol) January 18, 2021
RECOVERY trial: No Benefit from convalescent plasma in hospitalized patients with Covid-19
17 Jan, 2021 | 22:26h | UTCCommentary: Covid: ‘Convalescent plasma no benefit to hospital patients’ – BBC
Covid-19: Norway investigates 23 deaths in frail elderly patients after vaccination
17 Jan, 2021 | 22:21h | UTCCovid-19: Norway investigates 23 deaths in frail elderly patients after vaccination – The BMJ
See also: Covid-19 vaccination associated with adverse drug reactions in elderly people who are frail
[Preprint] Past COVID-19 infection provides some immunity but people may still carry and transmit virus
15 Jan, 2021 | 09:02h | UTCSee also: Covid-19: Past infection provides 83% protection for five months but may not stop transmission, study finds – The BMJ AND COVID reinfections are unusual — but could still help the virus to spread – Nature AND COVID-19 infection gives some immunity, but virus can still be spread, study finds – Reuters AND Expert reaction to a preprint from the SIREN study looking at SARS-CoV-2 infection rates in antibody positive healthcare workers – Science Media Centre
Covid-19 Vaccine — Frequently Asked Questions
15 Jan, 2021 | 08:49h | UTCCovid-19 Vaccine — Frequently Asked Questions – New England Journal of Medicine
Clinical trial finds vitamin D does not ward off colds and flu
15 Jan, 2021 | 08:33h | UTC
A guide to vaccinology: from basic principles to new developments
14 Jan, 2021 | 02:09h | UTCA guide to vaccinology: from basic principles to new developments – Nature Reviews Immunology
Guideline: Update on perioperative hypersensitivity reactions
14 Jan, 2021 | 01:44h | UTCUpdate on perioperative hypersensitivity reactions: joint document of the Brazilian Society of Anesthesiology (SBA) and Brazilian Association of Allergy and Immunology (ASBAI) – Brazilian Journal of Anesthesiology
Part I: post-crisis guidelines and treatment
Part II: etiology and diagnosis
Perspective: Maintaining safety with SARS-CoV-2 vaccines
12 Jan, 2021 | 01:53h | UTCMaintaining Safety with SARS-CoV-2 Vaccines – New England Journal of Medicine
Commentary on Twitter
Anaphylactic reactions may be more likely with mRNA COVID-19 vaccines than other traditional vaccines (1 in 100,000 vs. 1 in 1,000,000); likely a reaction to carrier used to protect RNA component (polyethylene glycol, PEG), rather than the vaccine per se.https://t.co/lb7yBCavGQ pic.twitter.com/Pu2ju4K6qQ
— Dr Zoë Hyde (@DrZoeHyde) January 1, 2021
CDC Report: Anaphylaxis after Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine is rare (11.1 cases per million doses)
12 Jan, 2021 | 01:52h | UTCCommentaries: CDC says severe allergic reactions to coronavirus vaccine are rare – CNN AND CDC reports more allergic reactions to Covid-19 vaccines, but cases remain few – STAT